Turning Point comment for 'This Morning'
Commenting for This Morning, Turning Point’s alcohol spokesperson Harry Walker says:
“It’s not just about physical addiction: alcohol problems can be linked to a range of social issues such as mental health problems and people’s employment needs. Those problems need to be addressed in their entirety; just dealing with alcohol in isolation does not work.
“And what about those people who turn up drunk at A and E? All too often their undiagnosed long-term alcohol problems don’t get picked up. Turning Point has a sophisticated approach to getting those people into fast-tracked, yet sustainable treatment. Front-line staff identify problematic drinkers early on in their hospital stay and refer them to rehab services where they then have more chance of having their lives turned around. What’s really needed are innovative approaches to dealing with people’s complex needs and problems.”
For more information contact:
Turning Point’s press officer 020 7481 7630 / 07786 938 601
www.turning-point.co.uk
Notes to editors:
- Turning Point runs alcohol intervention services in three hospitals in the North East and Watford. What we are uncovering is a worrying number of NHS ‘frequent flyers’ who experience undiagnosed problematic alcohol use, but the good news is that we are in partnership with NHS frontline staff to locate these people and refer them to treatment rapidly.
- Today, one in eleven children live with parents who misuse alcohol. Across the country 1.3 million children are affected. Turning Point’s 'Bottling it Up' campaign, launched in May 2006, aimed to raise awareness of a destructive situation hidden in society. Turning Point runs three pilots of family-based alcohol treatment services, which were commissioned following the campaign.
- Turning Point already provides services for families in London, Manchester and Wakefield (Base Camp) and provide ‘What About Me’ (WAM), Sheffield, a confidential service to help children and young people, aged 7–18, who are affected by drugs and alcohol use in their family.
- Turning Point is calling for more of these newer, dedicated services to support families affected by alcohol misuse. There must be:
- Specific services for parents with alcohol problems including individual and group counselling and practical help to establish structure and routine in the home.
- Separate dedicated services for children, including counselling to help them cope emotionally, opportunities to enjoy normal activities and to learn that they are not alone and support to improve school attendance.
- Services that bring both parents and children together, including family therapy working together to discuss problems in the home.
- Turning Point is the UK’s leading social care organisation: Turning Point provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems or those with a learning disability. Turning Point provides services in around 200 locations in England and Wales.
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